Wringer actuating device



Oct. 16, 1934. N I ETTEN WRINGER ACTUATING DEVICE Filed Dec. 22, 1932 Patented Oct.` 16, 1934 iJNi'rl-:D stares rear orties y 1,977,269 WRINGER ACTUATING DEVE Nicholas L. Etten, Water-ico, iowa Application December 22, 1932, Serial No. 648,410

' 1 Claim. (ci. aia-s2) The present invention relatesto a novel form of wringer roll actuating means wherein each roll is positively driven by the power source through manually controlled means to be described.

The invention has for its principal object the provision of'positive driving means for wringer rolls. i n

A further object is to provide a means by which each roller is independently and positively driven in geared relationship regardless of the'frictional relationship between the rolls.

Astill further object is to provide a means whereby such independent and positive driving means may be operable regardless of the relative alignment or spacing between the rolls.

Another object is to provide means whereby contact pressure between the rolls may be removed without disturbance of the positive coupling between the driving and driven members.

A practicable wringer unit embodying the invention is illustrated by the following description and accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a sectional front view of the mechanism taken in the direction of the arrows from line 1 1 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation taken in the direction of the arrows from line 2 2 in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational View taken in the direction of the arrows on line 3 3 in Fig, 2.

Fig. l will disclose a fragmentary view of a well known assembly of wringer members, which due to their somewhat conventional design, will not be described further than to say that the unit may be composed of a lower roller suitably journaled in a bearing member 12 affixed in an end frame member 13 and an upper roller 11 journaled in a bearing member 14 which is slidably supported in end frame .member 13.

Contact pressure between rolls 10 and 11 is maintained by a spring member 15 seated upon bearing 14 and tensioned by a hand screw 16 which latter is threaded in a nut member 17 affixed to a cross frame member 18, as shown.

Frame member 18 is retained in a position of suitable relation to the associated parts by a hook member 19, which is but partially shown.

Hook member 19 is adapted to be held in locked position by a hooked portion of a hand lever 20 which is pivotally mounted upon frame member 18 and retained in locked relation with hook member 19 by means of a spring 21. The latter described assembly forms a safety release means which operates, when hand lever 2O is manipulated, to release frame member 18 in such a manner as to remove the tension of spring 15 from bearing member 14 and thus relieve the contact pressure between rollers lil and 1l. rhis feature will be referred to later.

The wringer unit is attached to and supported upon a housing which is composed of separablehalves as 31 and 32, best shown in Fig. 2, The housing members 31 and 32 are so formed to effectively support bearing members to beY described and to be mounted upon suitable supportu ing means and to support the wringer roll unit as noted. v

Fig. 1 will disclose a horizontal shaft 33 journaled in bearing members 34 and 35 which are supported in housing 32, as shown. Shaft 33 is retained against longitudinal movement by shoulder portions 36 and 3'?. The wringer end of said shaft 33 extends through and beyond bearing and has its end so shaped as to adapt it to be engaged in a coupling member 38, the opposite side of which is adapted to receive a flattened portion of the shaft of wringer roll 10.

Rotatably mounted upon shaft 33 are two bevel gears 39 and 41, each having recesses formed in the inner surfaces of the web portion, as 40 and 42. The gears 39 and 41 are disposed opposite and are suitably retained upon shaft 33 by collars 43 and 44, as shown.

Disposed below gears 39 and 41 and meshing therewith is a bevel gear 45, rotatably mounted in a bearing member 46, which latter is suitably supported in housing 31-32.

Gear 45 is adapted to be rotated by any suitable prime moving means, which is not here shown.

Disposed between gears 39 and 41 is a clutching member 48 having a continuous groove 48a about its central portion and outwardlyY extending tooth portions, as 49,'upon its two opposite ends. The clutch is slidably keyed to shaft 33 by means of a feather key 47 and is adapted to be shifted from an intermediate or neutral position toward the right to engage teeth 49 in recesses 42 of gear 41 or toward the left to engage teeth 49 in recesses 40 of gear 39.

The foregoing will illustrate that rotation of gear 45 will result in idling rotation of gears 39 and 41 upon Shaft 33, in opposite direction. It will be clear that, with the gears active, selective directional rotation may be transmitted to shaft 33 through coupling between clutch member 48 and either of gears 39 or 41. Means for manual control of the above described unit will be explained later. f

Aflixed to shaft 33, adjacent bearing 34 is a spur gear 50 which is so disposed as to mesh with a similar gear 51. Gear 51 is affixed to a horizontal shaft 52 which is journaled in bearing members 53 and 54, the said bearings being supported as shown, in housing 31-32.

The Wringer end of shaft 52 passes through and beyond bearing 54. To this extending end is affixed a flexible shaft member 55 having its opposite end affixed to the shaft of upper wringer roll 11.

The foregoing description, together with the drawing referred to will indicate that wringer rolls 10 and 11 are each positively rotated in selective direction, by driving rotation of gear 45, the lower roll 10 being driven through gear 39 or 41, clutch 46, key 47, shaft 33 and coupling member 3S, While the upper roll 11 is driven through shaft 33, as described, gear 50, gear 51, shaft 52 and flexible shaft 55.

Manual control of the unit is accomplished by means of a hand lever 56 affixed to a stud shaft 57 which is rotatably mounted in a suitable bearing Isupported in housing 31. Aflixed to the inner end of stub shaft 57 is a crank member 58 carrying a stud member 59 which member is adapted to engage in the groove 48a of clutch member 46, all as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.

Referring to Fig. 3, it is obvious that manipulation of hand lever 56 to right or left of a vertical position will result in similar movement of crank 58 with consequent shifting movement of clutch member 46 into engagement with gear 41 or 39.

Thus selective directional rotation of rollers 10 and 11 is controlled by suitable manipulation of hand lever 56.

Mention of means for releasing the contact pressure between rollers 10 and 11 has already been made. Obviously, when such release takes place, the relative alignment of shaft 52 and shaft of roll 11 is altered. It may also be borne in mind that in practical use the rolls of a wringer are frequently separated or misaligned by the passage between them of materials of varying thickness.

The function of flexible shaft 55 is to provide a positive though flexible driving connection between shaft 52 and shaft of wringer roll 11 in order that positive driving means is available regardless of variable alignment of roller 11 in relation to shaft 52.

What I claim is:

A wringer device including in combination a wringer frame, upper and lower wringer rolls supported therein, means for supplying tension between the rolls, a driving connection for the lower roll, driving means for the upper roll disposed in a plane different from that of the upper roll, means for associating the driving connections for the upper and lower rolls and a iiexible connection between the driving means for the upper roll and the upper roll, whereby said upper roll may be continuously driven in either direction irrespective of the plane of its operation.

NICHOLAS L. ETTEN. 

